Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's Disease is neurological disorder characterized by slowness of movement or difficulty initiating movement, rigidity, postural abnormalities (usually a flexed posture) and a resting tremor. Symptoms not related to movement may include, but are not limited to, depression, anxiety, loss of the sense of smell, constipation, drenching sweats and difficulty gauging the degree of movement or exertion.
> 1.5 million cases in the U.S.; 7-10 million worldwide
> Approximately 60,000 people are newly diagnosed in the U.S. every year
> Primarily the age of onset is over 60 with 4% of cases diagnosed before age 50.
Parkinsonism is the syndrome of the above symptoms and can be the result of Parkinson's Disease or it may occur after a stroke, due to a traumatic brain injury, due to arteriosclerosis or it may be drug induced. Regardless of the cause it is generally agreed that exercise is essential to slow the progress of the disease and to combat any debility that may occur as a result of the disease.
I hope you will find the attached articles helpful in mapping your own strategy to combat Parkinsonism and to remain as active and as vital as you can. No matter which exercises you choose to use in your battle it is important to try to exercise every day. Or to quote a friend who has been living a very full life for over a decade since his diagnosis, "You wouldn't go a day without medication, why would you go a day without exercise?"